If you've been walking around campus in the evening for
the past month, you might have heard a strange, almost alien-like, peenting
and twittering sound overhead. Those sounds are made by the male American
Woodcock as he displays for a potential mate. The male starts by taking
off into the air, which produces a rapid, constant twittering sound from
his wings. As he reaches the apex of his climb, the twittering starts
to sputter and the woodcock starts to spiral to the earth in a series
of wide-arcing circles. On the way down, his wings make a series of twittering
whistles as they cut through the air. Eventually the male lands in an
open area where the female can see him, and he makes a loud peenting call.
Soon the dance starts all over again, and will continue throughout the
night if there is enough light. On a evening with a full moon, these birds
may display into the early morning hours.

You might woodcocks displaying on the Arboretum if you
are out walking at night along the Bay shore path. You can hear them at
from the parking lots if you listen for the characteristic noise of their
wings.